Burn Rate Sensitization of Solid Propellants Using a Nano-Titania Additive

Abstract

Adding nanoparticles as a catalyst to solid propellant fuel to increase and enhance burn rates of the fuel by up to 10 times or more and / or modifying the pressure index. A preferred embodiment uses TiO2 nanoparticles mixed with a solid propellant fuel, where the nanoparticles are approximately 2% or less of total propellant mixture. The high surface to volume ratio of the nanoparticles improve the performance of the solid propellant fuel.

Description

[0001]This invention claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No, 60 / 705,395 filed on Aug. 4, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to nanoparticles, in particular to methods of making and using nanoparticle additives such as TiO2 as catalysts to enhance solid propellant burn rates where the high surface-to-volume of the nanoparticles provides greater benefit over traditional additives.BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART[0003]Additives comprising fractions of a percent to several percent of solid propellant mixtures have been considered through the years and are commonly employed in many rocket propellants and explosives. Various additives include burn-rate modifiers (e.g., ferric oxide, metal oxides, and organometallics); curing agents; and plasticizers. In certain cases, additions of small (<5% by weight) amounts of powdered material to the propellant mixture have been shown to increase or otherwise favorably modify the burn rate as described in T B Bri...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]A secondary objective of the invention is to provide methods, systems, apparatus and devices to provide a titania nanoparticle additive for composite solid propellants for improved performance due to their high surface to volume ratio.

[0014]A third objective of the invention is to provide new methods, systems, apparatus and devices for the addition of titania nanoparticle additives at about 0.4% of the total propellant mass to produce an impact on the burn rate of solid propellants up to ten times or more at various pressures.

Problems solved by technology

However, little research has been done on the effect of nanosized additives such as organometallics and related burn rate-enhancing and smoke-reducing compounds.

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